Monthly Archives: May 2016

More and more people are working from home while still dealing with immediate family needs. So sometimes an office in your kitchen is the answer where you still have efficiency and also have a smooth flow for dealing with work and family. An office/kitchen is an especially good idea too if you just don’t have house space. Now if you are interested in doing this, the first thing you need to find out is how much space you have to work with and then to figure out how much storage and desk area potential you have. To help in all this, this is how you proceed:

Create some type of boundary between your work area and the kitchen work area. Here, visual boundaries work well because it gives a definition of space. So maybe you can put the office area behind a half wall or an alcove or a folding screen which can hide the office when not needed.

You may also want to have custom made upper cabinets to hide outlets for your computer, fax machine and cell phone chargers. Another idea is to have a narrow shelf installed above your desk to help keep your desk cleared of these items. Another great tip that will avoid you a stressful call to a place like Don’t Panic IT Solutions is to consider your desk a no spill zone, since water can devastate your computer parts very easily. Speaking from experience, don’t drink at the computer, take small break, stretch your eyes out a little at the same time.

Be sure to have proper lighting. You can have a contractor install lights under custom built cabinets to keep your work area well-lit.

Think about cabinets with special storage options to help keep paper, supplies, your computer tower as well as the fax and printer out of sight. Also keep in mind that pull out shelves take up less space than opening doors. A pull out shelf can store the bulkier items that you have too such as a printer or fax machine. This will allow you to have more of your workspace clear.

A closet is another option to store your printer, computer and fax machine in. You can have outlets installed where needed with everything on shelves; ready to go, to use it when needed, and then you just close the door when you’re done.

Another place for storage is an island counter in the kitchen. You can store office supplies products in an empty drawer and keep them out of sight with this.

Having an office space in your kitchen isn’t impossible with some planning.

You have decided to remodel a room in your home into a home office. Trying to decide exactly the right look can be overwhelming though. Where to start? Well, the first step is to decide whether you want light or dark wood. If you go with dark wood walls and flooring, then you may feel as if you’re peering out of a cave. Still, if you go with a light wood and bright colors that are overdone, you may feel as if you should be pouring tea on a settee. Also, do you want hardwood floors or laminated floors? To help you will all of this, below are some suggestions:

To start, if you prefer a floor made of dark wood, then painting the walls a lighter color and adding some extra custom lighting fixtures will get rid of the cave feel. You can add custom built wall units and cabinets for storage in a lighter wood to offset the dark floor. Too, using curtains and the right windows which allow more light into your office which will brighten things up.

If the room you’re converting into your office is small though you may want to consider a light wood floor. A lighter floor makes a room seem larger. Since wood, whether light or dark, will go with about any furniture, you can mix and match your furniture and wall units. The only time you may have a problem; however, is if your office furniture is going to be mahogany or red toned. These would go better with a floor that’s brown toned.

Now the other consideration is whether you would want hardwood floors or laminated flooring. There’s a considerable cost difference between the two so keep that in mind. Well, below are the pros and cons with both:

Hardwood: Hardwood is made from trees and is higher priced both to buy and to install. It does add to your home’s value though. If it gets scratched or nicked, it can be sanded and refinished to make it look as good as new; so it lasts.

Laminate: It’s cheaper to buy and install because it’s made from composite wood. It’s also resistant to scratches, moisture; and wear and tear. It’s easier to clean though the lower quality is more artificial looking. It also doesn’t repair easily if you don’t have extra tiling.

Choosing an office design style which works for you is a matter of personal choice. Now if you like less in the way of what is in the office, this is now in style; with sleek modern cabinets, so the contemporary look may be desirable. This style goes with neutral colors, black and white; with accents of bold colors. In addition, the use of lines and space is one of the most distinctive elements in contemporary style. So what you don’t hang on your walls is as important as what you do.

The furniture you choose should also be simple and uncluttered. So a custom made desk may be right then, without any fancy details or decoration, just clean lined and functional. Now for your floor, you may want to choose wood, vinyl or tile; keeping it bare and smooth. For both texture and color, you can add area rugs to give it some interest.

On the other hand, if you go with traditional style, you’ll have a blend between modern equipment and more intricate cabinets and wall units. The furniture for this type of office usually has a mahogany tone and a more welcoming style. Additionally, natural colors such as creams and beiges can be combined with a wood grained finished furniture. To add a pop of color navy blue, dark green and burgundy can be used too. An ornate rug then can be used to add a warmer touch to the room.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing colors for your office though is that the brighter the colors used, regardless what style you choose, the less seriously your office will be taken. You have to remember to choose colors for your office that match with the age of your clients then, the business you are in and if your clients are male or female.

In the end, your office is an extension of yourself and how you present yourself to your clients. Therefore; a style which works for you is the first step to promoting your business and you.

Roll down shutters can save you money; plus give you added security for your home or business. Because when these types of shutters are rolled down, they stay in place so that no one can see into your home or business which is a deterrent to crime. Also, during bad weather, since the shutters are strong and roll down; this prevents damage to windows which can keep you and your family safe from harm.

Additionally, roll down shutters can also be used on entry doors, sliding doors, patio doors and skylights. They can be installed on screened in porches, pool houses and even storefronts for extra protection and security too. Too, a person looking to enter a home for a home invasion will be likely to pass your home by because of the difficulty of entering. Burglars want easy access as a common element to their thinking.

In addition, rolling shutters can save you money by giving you extra insulation against both cold and heat. So in the winter months the shutters help to reduce heat loss which in turn reduces energy consumption. In the summer, they block out the heat and glare and keep the inside cool. The shutters work because there is dead air space between the glass of the window and the shutter which adds to the insulation factor. So this will help both with heat loss and heat gain, thus cutting your heating and cooling bill up to 63%. This means by saving money on your heating and cooling bill, it will pay for the shutters over time with the money you’re saving.

Plus, if you need to sleep in the daytime because of your work schedule, the shutters will block out sunlight so that you can sleep peacefully in a darkened room. Small vents can be installed to allow a small amount of light and air in if you prefer this too. Also, the rolling shutters help to decrease distracting outside noise such as shouting kids and noise from traffic. As an additional bonus, rolling shutters also help to protect the interior of your home from UV damage, heat damage and other damage caused by sunlight.
So rolling shutters are a great investment for both security and saving money.